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Why Is Cybersecurity Culture So Important?
Creating a solid cybersecurity culture means making everyone work toward the goal of improving your company’s security. In financial terms, a healthy cybersecurity culture can be the difference between success and bankruptcy because a single data breach costs, on average, around $200,000 due to the associated direct, indirect, and lost opportunity costs. Small businesses —historically focused more on profits than cybersecurity — are now facing the same risks as their larger counterparts. To avoid this situation, take these five steps to build a more robust cybersecurity culture in your company.
Five Simple Steps to Building a Cybersecurity Culture
In an age where users increasingly carry out their day-to-day activities online, cybersecurity is no longer the responsibility of a company’s IT department alone. Every staff member has a role in protecting their organization’s digital assets and other sensitive data from malicious cybercriminals. A robust cybersecurity culture can help reinforce this message and create a positive working environment based on trust, transparency, and accountability. For more information on the strategic importance of implementing a culture of security, please refer to Cybersecurity New Orleans.
Focus on the bigger picture
Cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link. A data breach can originate from a phishing message sent to an executive or malware downloaded by a front-line worker. To achieve your cybersecurity objectives, it’s helpful to take a few steps back and define the bigger picture of your cybersecurity culture, how it makes it possible to accomplish your goals, and how C-level members can lead by example. IT Support New Orleans offers strategic guidance for local businesses interested in building a security culture for the long haul.
Implement Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Cybersecurity is a complex and evolving topic that is not easily understood. Even tech-savvy employees typically have only a surface-level understanding of the threats they face daily. A Stanford University study revealed that employee mistakes are the leading cause of data breaches, at 88 percent, followed closely by malicious insiders at 77 percent. To be as effective as possible, cybersecurity awareness training must include interactive exercises and real-life scenarios. At the bare minimum, a cybersecurity awareness training program should cover:
- Importance of cybersecurity and the risks of undermining it
- An overview of common but serious bugs such as the Heartbleed Bug and their potential impact on your business
- Information on password-cracking tools used by hackers to steal accounts
- Learning to recognize the signs of Phishing and how you can avoid being scammed (and what to do if you are)
- Conducting simulated attack scenarios so employees learn their responsibilities in such scenarios and know exactly how to respond
This training should be delivered at least once per month for all employees as part of their onboarding process and then again at least every quarter. This ensures that employees are continually aware of what’s happening with cyber security, how your company is protecting itself from these threats, and what they can do if they ever encounter suspicious activity on their computers or phones.
Implement Effective Security Tools
A multi-layered approach to cyber security is the best way to protect your organization from a data breach. This means that you should use different types of security solutions to ensure that all threats are covered and that they work together seamlessly. The first step towards creating a cybersecurity culture in your organization is ensuring that you have adequate tools.
You need to pay attention to four main areas when choosing the right tools for your business: ease of use, manageability, scalability, and flexibility.
Comprehensive Cybersecurity Policies
Your cybersecurity policy should be clear, concise, and applicable to your organization. A good policy should also be easy to understand. Users across ranks and irrespective of their level of technical expertise should be able to understand the policies, why they need to follow them, and what could happen if they don’t. You should also consider implementing software solutions and tools such as password managers and email filters that make it easier for your employees to stick to corporate privacy and security policies.
Find a Reliable Managed IT Services Provider
A managed IT services provider is a partner who takes care of your technology infrastructure, allowing you to focus on what matters most—your business. A reliable IT partner, such as Managed IT services Lafayette will provide your business with top-notch security and tech support across the board and ensure that you have access to the latest resources, technologies, and best practices. When looking for a managed IT services provider, make sure they have experience working with businesses similar to yours in terms of size and complexity.
A good managed IT services provider should offer a range of services, including:
- End-to-end security monitoring and management
- Backup and disaster recovery solutions
- Cybersecurity training programs
Building a strong cybersecurity culture takes effort and commitment.
It’s not just about having a set of rules or following best practices – it’s about changing the way you do business, your team’s mindset, and how you interact with others in the industry. Cybersecurity culture is something you build from the ground up over time as part of your overall value proposition as an organization. It requires a lot of investment and hard work for both leadership and employees alike, but when done right will provide long-term benefits for everyone involved.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at some key steps organizations can take to build a strong cybersecurity culture. Don’t forget that creating a cybersecurity culture is a continuous process. The digital environment changes quickly, and cybercriminals will constantly devise new methods to get through your defenses. Keep up to date with new developments and ensure you have appropriate security measures at all times.
